[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages 8269-8270]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                IN HONOR OF OFFICER CHRISTOPHER TRUCILLO

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, March 23, 2009

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor Christopher 
Trucillo, Chief of Department of the Port Authority Police of New York 
& New Jersey. Chief Trucillo began his law enforcement career in 1978 
as a municipal police officer in Harrison, New Jersey. He continued his 
career of public service by later joining the Port Authority Police 
Department in 1986. As an officer for the Port Authority, Chief 
Trucillo worked different operational, administrative, and 
investigative functions. On September 11, 2001 while assigned as the 
Commanding Officer of the Internal Affairs Bureau, Chief Trucillo 
responded to the World Trade Center disaster by mobilizing the members 
of his staff and accounting for all Port Authority Police personnel who 
responded. Under his leadership an irreplaceable connection was created 
between the families of those who were lost in the tragic events of 9/
11 and the police department. Chief Trucillo was named the ``2004 Boss 
of the Year'' by the New York State Shields for ``outstanding 
leadership and commitment to law enforcement.'' He was also honored 
with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Police Defense 
Foundation. On January 6, 2009, he retired after thirty years of public 
service and dedication as a police officer. His years of valuable 
service and commitment are greatly appreciated and will certainly be 
remembered.

[[Page 8270]]

  I would also like to enter into the Record this poem that was given 
to me about Chief Trucillo and his service as it is a fitting tribute 
to a dedicated public servant. The poem was written by Albert Caswell, 
a friend of Chief Trucillo.

                                  True

     True . . .
     To Be True!
     In Life, and In Death . . . and In All You Do . . .
     Jersey's Best . . .
     This, and no less . . .
     All In That Moment of Truth . . .
     When death lies so close . . . right before you as the most . 
           . .
     A Father, A Husband . . . A Top Cop . . .
     A Leader of Heroes, at the top . . .
     Straight, as an arrow . . .
     With a heart of girth . . .
     Which, could not be stopped . . .
     Kind and caring . . .
     He's at the Top . . .
     He's a Top Cop . . .
     As on this night, for him . . . all of our tears are sharing 
           . . .
     Sharing, knowing . . . such men so glowing . . . are but few 
           and far between . . .
     Just Everything!
     Who Are True!
     As he touches all . . .
     A Man, who in our hearts stand's so very tall . . .
     For All of his Men and Women in Blue . . .
     As his heart goes out to them . . . so calls . . .
     All out there on That Thin Blue Line . . .
     Quiet Heroes, living and reacting with death . . . all in 
           micro seconds in time . . .
     Giving all, until none lies left . . .
     For What is Real, For What Is Really True . . .
     For on this night, who will they save? Who will they bless?
     As a cop lies dying . . . as their precious lives, they will 
           give no less!
     Being True!
     As have all of those families who have lived with death . . .
     All for them, over the years . . . so many sleepless nights, 
           and the tears he's shed . . .
     For all those who have died . . .
     Consoling, all those husbands and wives . . .
     Looking, into their children's eyes . . .
     Being True, to all those lives . . . for them he cries . . .
     Working his way up . . .
     A Cop's Cop . . .
     Walking out that door . . .
     His family, not knowing for sure . . . if they'd ever see him 
           any more . . .
     For his job, Chris must be True!
     In our lives, and in our times . . . in all we do . . .
     The Greatest of all things . . . that a heart can be!
     Is True!
     Yes Chris . . . that's you . . . True!
     True!

                          ____________________